Adam Zorgane has made striking comments about his career in European football, claiming that his Algerian nationality has affected how he has been valued in the transfer market.
The 26-year-old midfielder, who plays for Union Saint-Gilloise, spoke in an interview with Algerian outlet La Gazette du Fennec, where he reflected on his career progression and the challenges he believes he has faced.
Zorgane joined Union Saint-Gilloise from Charleroi last summer in a deal worth around €4.3 million, with a contract running until 2029. Before his move, he also played for Algerian side Paradou AC.
Despite his steady development in Belgium, Zorgane suggested that his career path should have taken a different trajectory earlier.
He said: “I should have left Charleroi after my first or second year at the most. I joined a club that was fighting to stay in the Belgian First Division at the age of 21, and my statistics were good.”
The midfielder went on to argue that players with similar or even weaker performances have been given opportunities at bigger clubs more quickly, attributing this to nationality-related bias in the transfer market.
He added: “I’ve seen Belgian players my age, who didn’t have the same season as me, move to better clubs and leave long before me. In football, nationality plays a role, and you are looked down upon because you are Algerian, because you are from Algeria, I can confirm that.”
Zorgane also extended his comments to other Algerian players who have pursued careers abroad, suggesting that similar patterns have affected multiple generations.
He continued: “The same thing happened to the Algerian players who preceded me in playing professionally abroad. There are even French people of Algerian origin who cut themselves off from others as soon as they chose Algeria. I will never regret being Algerian, it is a source of pride, but this is the truth.”
Alongside his comments on club football, Zorgane also spoke about his international ambitions with the Algeria national football team, particularly his desire to feature at the 2026 World Cup.
He expressed strong motivation to be part of the squad and described the pride associated with representing his country on football’s biggest stage.
He said: “A player always waits for his name to appear on the World Cup list, because he has the opportunity to play with the national team every day, and we miss that. We have a great atmosphere in the team, with experienced players and promising youngsters. I always hope to be selected and to do my best for Algeria.”
Responding to criticism that his performances for club and country differ, Zorgane pointed to inconsistency in playing time as a key factor.
He explained: “I was hoping to get a regular place in the national team. With my potential and performance, I need to do better. I’ve played some good games, but I haven’t been a regular starter. A footballer needs to play regularly; confidence is the foundation of everything. When you have the confidence of the team and the coaching staff, you can perform at the club level.”
He further elaborated on the difference in rhythm between club and international football.
He said: “Some people sometimes ask why my performance with the national team isn’t at the same level as my performance with my club? That’s normal. With my club, I play every weekend, I play regularly, I have everyone’s confidence, and I can express myself on the field. But with the national team, sometimes the matches come every three months, sometimes I’m a starter, and sometimes I don’t play at all, so I lose some of my self-confidence.”
Zorgane has made 24 appearances for Algeria, scoring once and providing two assists. However, he was not included in the national team’s most recent squad in March.
His comments are likely to fuel wider debate about player development, representation, and opportunities for North African footballers in Europe.
